Eight

Years ago, when this internet thing started taking off and people started asking if I could design them a website, I used the local pond and the swans that have always been there as a subject to play around with creating some test stuff. It ended up a great wee record of the activity that went on in and around the big puddle and was probably one of the catalysts for me taking up photography. It got a bit obsessive too.

For years now, despite sitting for weeks on her nest at times, no cygnets have ever hatched. So it was great to see this today. Eight hyperactive cygnety fluffballs being paraded around the pond by their proud parents.

Hopefully they avoid the cats, the heron, the numpties that let their dogs paddle in the water and the airgun toting neds that have disrupted this little wildlife idyll in the past.

Cute as they are too.